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Twin Strikers Palamish : The 'rebellion' of structure entity
墨書 Inktalez
【City Reclamation Battle No. 013】
The city is filled with ruins, and the land has long been scorched by flames, leaving behind only cries of "weak and powerless."
" Lucia......"
Leaning against a corner of the ruins, the commander softly called out the name of Lucia in his arms. He hoped for Lucia's response, even if it was accompanied by a smile that couldn't be considered a smile, just to prove that she... was still alive...
But she can still be considered "alive". It's just that in this state, it may seem like a trivial matter to some people.
"You're just asleep, right? I understand. You've been working hard all this time, as well as Lily."
As he spoke, the commander turned to look at Rie and Lief, who were also "sound asleep" not far away. In the distance, a device that had been used to detect the concentration of Punishing was also frantically sounding an alarm.
"High Punishing concentration detected. Please evacuate immediately! I repeat, high Punishing concentration detected. Please evacuate..."
Suddenly!
'Bang!'
A gunshot broke the silence of the place.
"I understand it!!!"
Just as the final lie called 'Goodwill' was mercilessly torn apart. Accompanied by a venting-like scream, the commander repeatedly pulled the trigger with force, but the crisp sound coming from the gun in his hand kept reminding him - everything stops here. And yet, the instrument continued to intermittently emit its mocking echo around him.
He had intended to save the last bullet for himself...
And finally, when the commander, as if compromising, put down his powerless arm and looked up at the sky with a self-mocking and pathetic smile.
But the sky was no longer as azure as he remembered, only a darkness mixed with scarlet. He wanted to seek the garden that was praised as the hope and spark of stars, but he couldn't see a glimmer of light.
So, the cold rain fell on his face. Along with it, frozen was his heart that had always wanted to dedicate itself to humanity.
(Why?) He recalled the agreement he had made with Lucia about the new world.
(Why?) He suddenly remembered what Alpha had said to him at that time;
There is also the oath made at the Zephyr Academy that keeps repeating in my mind;
(So... what exactly is the reason?)
So he sought answers from the sky. But all he got in response was the sound of raindrops falling on his face.
So, he continued to question himself.
But it seems that everything has already been decided...
Finally, he seemed to understand. From the moment of the outbreak of Punishing, when human nature was no longer noble in the face of life, when betrayal and abandonment had become the truth, your existence seemed to be of no importance in the eyes of others.
"I'm sorry..."
After all, the weak you (yourself) deep down can't protect everyone...
"I'm really... sorry..."
[City Recapture Battle 013: 3 Hours Before]
This may be the commander's largest military operation in the Sky Garden to date. It is for the future of all humanity, and to establish a true stronghold for future counterattacks against Punishing Virus on Earth. The long-prepared battle to retake City 013 is finally about to begin...
The aircraft circled overhead, emitting a deafening roar over the city, like the drumbeats of an impassioned musical piece, stirring the hearts of everyone.
Some people turn their heads to look out of the porthole at the sky, as if they are thinking of someone important.
Some people bow their heads to look down at the ruins and scorched earth below them, silently gripping their guns tightly.
"Commander..."
(And what I'm thinking is...)
"Commander~"
A soft call finally brought the commander's thoughts back to reality.
"That... please don't keep staring at me~"
In her words, Lily turned her face away, and her subconscious action of covering her face with her hand did not conceal the blush on her cheeks at all.
"Cough, cough, Commander."
Also, when the commander was momentarily stunned by Livia's words and appearance, Rie suddenly approached from the side. He had been wiping his weapon all along, but Livia's sudden words made him shift his gaze to the commander.
"What are you thinking? It seems like you've been lost in thought since we got here. If we count the time... it's been over ten minutes."
At the same time, on the other side of the commander, Lucia gently tugged at the commander's sleeve.
"If you're tired, just lean on me and rest for a while."
It was the same bittersweet smile that the commander had. To be precise, it seemed to have been since he had experienced so much with them. This kind of care made the commander both happy and guilty.
Countless nights, the commander would wonder what he could do for them. If he were to set aside the task of maintaining their consciousness as a beacon, he would feel like nothing more than a burden as a human.
Moreover... I have already made the choice of 'being unable to forgive myself.'
At the Kowloon City Circuit engulfed in war flames—
Lucia. This unit... (Please don't...)
In the desperate shadow named Gemini—
【Who do you really want to save, Lucia? Li? Or Livia?】
(But I want to...) In the decision known as "for the happiness of all mankind"—
"What exactly is it that she is supposed to dedicate? Or sacrifice?"
"(Does it have to be her?...)"
In the spiral tower formed by Punishing —
【The future? The past? Or the present?】
(But I just want him to come back...)
That's right, as the commander, I have witnessed their choices a long time ago, and it seems that they always manage to play a role at the most critical moments - a hug? A few words? Or perhaps, a warm and encouraging smile?
But what does that really count for? It's like the saying, "This is the chief's strength."
But that seems to be self-deprecating...
After all...
If I hadn't been injured at Kowloon City Circuit;
If I had the same fighting power as them;
If I could propose new suggestions in parliament;
If I could also be there from the beginning and move forward together...
Perhaps all of this has already changed.
Maybe it will lead to a bad ending. But at least, I can always walk shoulder to shoulder with them.
And when the luck that had always favored me left me in an instant.
I think, I can no longer show the smile of the past.
Because...
I am ultimately still fragile as a human being.
As the conductor, I still can't control everything;
Just like... right now...
The sudden change in circumstances drastically altered the situation in City 013.
"East side! A large number of infectious agent has appeared!!"
"This is nothing like what we observed during reconnaissance before!"
"Retreat! Retreat! Fall back the defense line!"
It's like the scene in the Pruya Forest Park is replaying. The evolution speed of Punishing has once again exceeded expectations. The 'humanoid' at that time should perhaps now be called 'new humans' to be more appropriate. More threatening than before, more intelligent, organized, and continuously eroding the almost collapsing defense line.
The wailing and explosions are incessant.
The aircraft providing support in the air is constantly being brought down to the ground by the attacks of various alien creatures.
The tide of infectious agent is so numerous that even the instrument detecting Punishing cannot show individual scarlet spots. Failure is inevitable...
"This is Grey Crow Squad! Repeat, this is Grey Crow Squad! We urgently need evacuation!"
Amidst distant explosions and the beeping of the Punishing concentration detector, the commander, holding Lucia, was desperately shouting into the communication device in front of him.
"Please respond when you hear this!!!"
*Boom.*
Suddenly, an explosion splashed debris around them, and in the arms of Lucia, she still used her last strength to try to shield something for the commander.
"Put me down and go. Commander~"
The pattern of scarlet permeates her whole body, and the smile in her words seems to be a final farewell.
"Please...please don't say it anymore..."
I wanted to wipe away the tears for the commander, but they quietly fell as soon as my fingers touched his cheek.
"Lucia......Lucia?"
Finally, the commander's last bit of reason was also overwhelmed by the desperate scene before his eyes. In almost a frenzy of shouting, the commander continued to plead for a response.
But all he could perceive was the smile on Lucia's face at that moment.
"Is anyone there? Is there anyone left?"
The sound of the explosion gradually subsides. The only thing echoing here is the faintly audible roar.
Then the commander tightly covered his own mouth.
Although he wanted to cry out loud, all he could do was seek comfort within the trembling of his body.
Even the gun in hand only had one bullet left. What could one do in this situation? Finally, when the pounding heart calmed due to lack of oxygen, the low growl around gradually faded away.
When the commander was ready to seize this precious time to prepare to contact the Sky Garden again, the message on the screen plunged him into despair once more.
There were only two short words and a postscript.
"I'm sorry... we will remember your past contributions. May the light of humanity endure."
"What is this?"
Various emotions surged in the commander's heart. Confusion, bewilderment, anger, and finally, acceptance.
After all, corpses already littered his side.
After all, past success was also built on blood. It's just that this time, it's a bit unlucky.
I'm just too weak;
So who can I blame?
Suddenly, the commander burst into laughter. As if relieved of a heavy burden, he leaned against a corner of the ruins. The commander just stood there, quietly gazing at the sky that had long lost its brightness.
(Maybe this is not so bad after all?)
(At least I can still be by their side...)
So, the commander was caught in the whirlpool of past memories. Time and time again indulging in the past, only to be pulled back to reality by the sound of alarms.
No one responded, no one saved.
The sound of gunfire finally broke the barrier between illusion and reality.
But all he could do was say, "I'm sorry. Really... I'm sorry..."
Thoughts become light, vision becomes blurry.
In the moment of perceiving the final loss...
"I will be coming to see you very soon."
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